[Six years ago I had the opportunity to hear from three recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, C. T. Vivian, U. S. Representative John Lewis and former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young - each one a close friend and lieutenant of Dr. M. L. King. Last night both Vivian and Lewis passed away. The question still remains: what injustice do you see in our world, culture, or community and how is your faith compelling you to respond? Will you be passive or will you change your world? The choice is yours.]
For the Courier-Times, New Castle, IN July 5-6, 2014
Passive Faith Didn't Birth A Nation
"It was passivity that kept this country down." Wiry, weathered, and grey, he speaks from a position of respect. Beaten, jailed, and marginalized in the 60's, he has earned the right to be heard. Will we listen?
C. T. Vivian was one of three recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom that gathered recently to discuss the civil rights struggle. To his right were U. S. Representative John Lewis and former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young - each one a close friend and lieutenant of Dr. M. L. King.
Vivian, Lewis, Young, and King all had a desire to become Christian ministers, but along the way each one realized that following Christ meant more than gaining a title and a congregation. Faith requires action and often leads you down paths you would not have chosen on your own.
C. T. Vivian believes that a passive faith allowed the evil of racism to flourish. A passive faith that said, "If I just believe the right things and go to church on Sunday, then I'm okay." But that's not okay; injustice must be challenged, true faith compels us to action.
The apostle Paul knew that when he wrote to the church in Corinth that, "Christ's love compels us ..." (2 Corinthians 5:14) Jesus' closest friend, John, urged believers to love deeply, not "with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
Passive faith isn't new. The prophet Habakkuk asked God, "Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?" It's surprising that God didn't respond, "Why did YOU look at injustice and not do anything about it? Why did YOU tolerate wrongdoing?" Ultimately, God had to use Israel's enemies to bring about justice because the people of God did nothing.
Passive faith is a persistent issue. By the time this article is published, the Supreme Court will have given their opinion about whether a privately owned company can be forced to pay for products and services that violate the conscience of their owners. Regardless of the court's opinion, the reason this is even debatable is that our culture believes, once again, that faith should be passive. "Just worship the way you want, but keep it to yourself."
[UPDATE: Days after this article was written SCOTUS ruled that family-run businesses like Hobby Lobby do not have to violate their religious convictions by providing for health insurance procedures that run contrary to their beliefs. And ten days ago SCOTUS again ruled in favor of The Little Sisters of the Poor in their eight year legal battle to protect their religious freedom.]
Yet, history shows us that passive faith didn't bring about a change in civil rights; it actually created an environment where racism could thrive.
Passive faith didn't birth "a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." A passive faith is no faith at all; faith without works is dead.
A faith that refuses to tolerate wrongdoing, however, can make a difference. Faith that challenges injustice can change the world.
As we celebrate the 238th birthday of a nation that champions freedom, let's embrace the kind of faith that birthed that nation; the kind of faith that sustains and corrects a nation. The type of faith that compelled our founders to forge these words on the Liberty Bell: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof ..." (Leviticus 25:10)
Don't be silent. Proclaim liberty. Fight injustice. Even if it takes you down a path you did not choose.
C. T., John, Andy, and Martin all started out simply wanting to be ministers. Along the way, they discovered there was nothing simple about following Christ. He took them to places they didn't want to go. It cost them in ways they could never imagine. It required them to defend truth and fight injustice.
Was it easy? Not at all. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The question facing us today is the same one faced by four black men from Atlanta in the early 60's. The same question faced by 56 men who met in Philadelphia and pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to adopt the Declaration of Independence.
The question: what injustice do you see in our world, culture, or community and how is your faith compelling you to respond? Will you be passive or will you change your world? The choice is yours, choose well.
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